The Associated PressLeBron James vows to be more aggressive as the NBA Finals continues.

Through the first two games of the NBA Finals, Miami Heat forward LeBron James had attempted twice as many 3-point attempts as he had free throws.

James had been to the free-throw line just six times, twice in a Game 1 victory, and four times in Thursday night’s Game 2 collapse.

With two off days and most of Sunday to ponder his inexplicable absence from the line, James, who entered Game 3 averaging 22 points in the Finals, seemed determined to see those numbers inflated.

“I will be in attack mode tonight,” James said at the Heat’s shoot-around Sunday morning. “Six free throws in (two) games from me is unacceptable. As simple as that.”

James went to the line four times in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, but didn't get there in the second half.

The Heat entered Game 3 with an 11-3 record in the postseason when it attempted more free throws than the opponent, 3-1 when attempting fewer. Additionally, when James leads the Heat in scoring in the postseason, Miami is 7-1. Sunday, the Heat attempted 15 free throws and Dallas had 27, yet the Heat was able to hold on for the 88-86 win.

“Six free throws in two games, I do that in my sleep in one game,” James said during off-day chatter. “I’m going to make a concentrated effort to be more aggressive to try to get to the rim, create some more opportunities for myself and my teammates.”

Yet James, who essentially declared himself unguardable — “I don’t feel like (there’s) one guy in the league that can stop me one-on-one” — conceded the Mavericks have been doing things defensively to prevent his penetrations, especially in late-game situations.

“They did some things defensively that they hadn’t done throughout the first two games all the way,” James said. “They started to blitz me, (Dwyane) Wade’s pick-and-rolls, and a lot of our sets kept us on the perimeter.

“We didn’t get into our sets early enough to give us more time, so we had to take contested long-range 3s. I think I took two, D-Wade actually took one.”

Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra, however, said he thought it might not behoove his team to get overly aggressive inside.

“We want to play more to our identity,” he said. “We don’t want to invent a new game. We’re an aggressive, attacking team that tries to get to the paint, to the rim, to the free-throw line.

“But at the same time we have read the game. We’ve got guys who can step up and make timely, open 3s and open shots to keep the defense honest. The most important thing for us is to get back to our identity.”

Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle said he was ready for a game without his top interior backup.

“It will change our rotation, obviously,” Carlisle said. “He’s one of our biggest guys, we all know that. We’ve got some different scenarios. (Ian) Mahinmi (a 6-foot-11 reserve) will most likely play some minutes. There’s a possibility we could look at other lineups that could be possibly smaller. We’re going to have to adjust.”

Mahinmi was ineffective, playing five minutes in the first half and committing three fouls.

FEELING THE ADRENALINE: The right-handed Dirk Nowitzki seemed unaffected by the torn tendon in his left middle finger, if the driving, left-handed layup he made for the winning shot Thursday night was any indication.

The injury, immobilized by a small splint, is evidently a non-factor.

“The finger is really good,” Nowitzki said. “Got to keep it straight. It was throbbing a little bit after the game (Thursday night), but I guess that’s normal — and it’s going to be OK.”

With two days to rest and receive treatment, Nowitzki said he wasn’t expecting any further difficulties.

“Once the adrenaline always starts flowing during the game, I think I’m OK,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me during the game. That’s the major thing.”

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Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3814.